Tony Pace, Subway’s chief marketing officer, said in interview Tuesday that the chain began testing hummus as a topping in early April. Pace noted that many customers already order vegetarian sandwiches and that the chickpea spread would give people looking for meatless options another choice.

“It’s something we’ve been talking about for the last three or four years,” Pace said, saying it has “tremendous potential.”

If the test is successful, Pace said it would be the first time the chain rolled out hummus nationally. Individual franchisees may have offered it independently in the past, he said.

Getting hummus as a topping will cost more, much like the avocado Subway added to its menu in recent years.

The hummus test comes at a time when many Americans are trying to cut back on how much meat they eat. In particular, Pace noted that people in their 20s are more “nutritionally aware” than any other past generation. In coming years, he predicted their eating habits will force the restaurant industry to adapt their menus.

Executives at Chipotle Mexican Grill, which recently began rolling out a vegan tofu topping for its burritos and bowls, have also noted that meatless options help the chain cultivate a relationship with younger consumers, who often experiment with being a vegetarian or vegan.